AHL Notebook: D’Amigo gets first taste of NHL

After a standout freshman season for RPI, Jerry D’Amigo left the Engineers program with dreams of playing in the National Hockey League. Three years later, that dream became reality.

A native of the Binghamton suburb of Johnson City, D’Amigo made his major-league debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their 3-2 overtime win against the visiting Dallas Stars on Dec. 5.

The 22-year-old forward has seen action in each of the Leafs last three games, averaging 5:45 of ice time with no points or penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating.

Toronto won each of D’Amigo’s first two games before a 5-2 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Before his recall, the Leafs hadn’t won since Nov. 23.

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D’Amigo had five goals, eight points, eight penalty minutes and was plus-1 in 19 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies when he was recalled the morning of his debut.

“It was a little bit unexpected. It was a shock when the coaches pulled me in,” D’Amigo said to reporters in a video posted on the Leafs website. “I thought I was just going to have a regular meeting, but I’m happy for it. It’s a great opportunity to get my first shot here, so hopefully I’m not too nervous.”

A spot became available for D’Amigo when the Leafs placed forwards Colton Orr and Tyler Bozak on injured reserve, and Jerred Smithson cleared waivers.

“For myself, it could be my first or my last (shot), so you know what, I’m going to make the best of it,” D’Amigo said. “Guys down there, whenever we get the call we want to make the most of it and we want to do good for this team and this organization. Whenever we do get that call, we’re going to try our best and work our hardest to do good up here.”

The 5-foot-11, 208-pound D’Amigo has skated on the fourth line for Toronto, registering two shots on 31 total shifts. He was drafted in the sixth round, 158th overall, by the Leafs in 2009.

“They need a spark, and hopefully I can be that spark and give them that,” D’Amigo said of his role. “Throw some body checks and try to start some stuff out there. I’m going to try my best and work my hardest to get something going.”

In his lone college season, D’Amigo was ranked second with 24 assists and third with 34 points in 35 games for RPI in 2009-10, earning ECAC Rookie of the Year honors.

He signed a three-year contract with Toronto shortly after the Engineers season ended, which this season pays him $67,500 in the AHL and $810,000 in the NHL according to capgeek.com.

He becomes the first Broome County native to play in the NHL since former Albany River Rats goaltender Mike Dunham of Endwell, who last skated for the New York Islanders in 2007.

“It’s not too bad right now. Guys are talking to me and they’re helping me out with the nerves,” D’Amigo said. “I’m kind of new to it but at the same time, I know what to do, as well. I’m just going to do my best to keep under the radar and try not to be too nervous.”

D’Amigo is in his fourth season with the Marlies, scoring 42 goals and 93 points in 208 AHL games, with 110 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating.

“(Marlies assistant) coach (Derek) King said, ‘How long have you been here? Five, six years,’” D’Amigo said. “It seems like forever, but I’m happy for this opportunity. I just want to make the most of it.”

SHARK BITE

Clifton Park resident Nick Petrecki added his name to the Worcester Sharks record book in a 2-1 shootout win at Manchester on Sunday.

In his fifth professional season, Petrecki, 24, skated in his 254th game for Worcester, moving past current Providence Bruin Mike Moore for the all-time franchise lead.

Drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by San Jose in 2007, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman has one goal and 12 penalty minutes in 12 games this season.

Next on the list is the Sharks’ all-time penalty minute mark. Petrecki has 489 PIM, trailing Frazer McLaren’s 577 in 217 games from 2008-13.

Petrecki made his NHL debut on Jan. 29, 2013 vs. Anaheim, which remains his lone major-league game. He was been named Worcester’s Man of the Year for his off-ice contributions in 2011 and 2012, and was voted the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the AHL’s Man of the Year in 2012.

MATTEAU MAY GO

Albany Devils rookie forward Stefan Matteau was placed on the preliminary roster for the U.S. team that will compete in the World Junior Championships in Malmo, Sweden from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2014.

The Chicago-born, Quebec-raised son of longtime NHL forward Stephane Matteau is one of 26 players invited to a training camp from Dec. 15 to 18 on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Albany has no games scheduled from Dec. 15 to 20.

After picking up a goal and two assists in his first 15 games, Matteau put together a six-game point streak (5-4-9) before having it snapped in a Dec. 7 shootout win at Binghamton. On the season, he has six goals, six assists and 31 penalty minutes in 22 games.

Last year, the U.S. team won the gold medal at World Juniors, helped in part by Union College defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.

AWARD WINNERS

Former Albany Devil Mike McKenna went 4-1 with a 1.16 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and two shutouts for Springfield to be named the AHL’s goaltender of the month for November. McKenna stopped 114 of 120 shots and eight of 10 shootout attemps in five games.

Abbotsford Heat alternate captain Ben Street was named player of the month for November, leading all AHL skaters with 11 goals and 19 points in 15 games. Twelve of those points came during a five-game scoring streak that included his first hat trick in a win over Oklahoma City.

The monthly award for top rookie went to Bridgeport’s Ryan Strome, who had five goals and 10 assists in 12 November games, including a franchise record-tying five points (2-3) in a 7-1 win at Worcester. Drafted fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011, Strome leads the AHL with 24 assists and 33 points in 23 games.

NET ROYALTY

The AHL saw a pair of former award-winning goaltenders return to its ranks to close the month of November.

Jason LaBabara, who won the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s top goalie in 2004 for Hartford and 2007 for Manchester, had 39 saves in a 2-1 loss to Texas on Nov. 26, his first AHL game in more than six years. LaBarbara stopped 43 shots in a shootout loss at San Antonio in his next start before being recalled to Edmonton.

Brad Thiessen began the season in Finland before being released and signed to a pro tryout by Norfolk. The 2011 Bastien winner for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Thiessen had 40 saves in a 3-2 loss to Providence in his Admirals debut on Nov. 30.

EX-FILES

After 15 NHL seasons, 1,030 regular-season and playoff games and two Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, college scorer turned major-league defensive forward Jay Pandolfo, 39, has formally called it quits. He had 100 goals and 226 points for the Devils, Islanders and Bruins.

Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk is out indefinitely after being taken from the ice on a stretcher Dec. 5 following a legal hit from Montreal’s Max Pacioretty that caused Boychuk to fall awkwardly into the boards. He complained of lower back pain, and a resulting MRI exam showed no fractures. Boychuk had a goal and five assists and was plus-8 in 27 games.

On emergency recall to Carolina, Zach Boychuk (no relation) picked up an assist on the Hurricanes’ first goal in a 5-3 win over San Jose on Dec. 6. After scoring just three goals in his first 14 games, Boychuk netted seven in a 10-game span prior to his recall. Since returned to Charlotte, he has a team-high 19 points (9-10) in 23 games.

After two months in the NHL, former RPI standout Brandon Pirri was returned by Chicago to Rockford on Dec. 3. Pirri, who went 6-5-11 with six penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 24 games, had two assists and was plus-3 in a 5-3 win over Charlotte on Dec. 7.

Brian Gionta has five goals and 16 points in 30 games for Montreal, with 12 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating. The Rochester-area native has skated in 725 career NHL games for New Jersey and the Canadiens, with 461 points (236-225).

Matt Pistilli, who had eight points (5-3) in 41 games as a rookie with the Albany River Rats in 2009-10, leads all ECHL skaters in scoring with 31 points (13-18) in 22 games for the Florida Everblades.

QUOTEBOOK

“We’ll take some positives out of this one. At least we were better than we were last night.”